Juvenile rapists on the rise across the country

Even as a debate rages over whether or not criminal offenders in the 16-18 age group should be treated as juvenile delinquents, instances of juveniles coming into conflict with the law, especially in cases of heinous crimes such as rape, are on the rise.

| TNN | Jun 19, 2013, 04.54 AM IST

Social activists display placards at a rally to protest against rape and barbaric attacks on women in Kolkata.

CHENNAI: Even as a debate rages over whether or not criminal offenders in the 16-18 age group should be treated as juvenile delinquents, instances of juveniles coming into conflict with the law, especially in cases of heinous crimes such as rape, are on the rise.

Between 2010 and 2012, there was a 233% increase in juveniles getting apprehended on rape charges in Tamil Nadu. While Odisha saw the maximum increase in percentage terms (411%), in actual numbers Madhya Pradesh (284) still accounted for maximum juvenile rapists in the country, as per the latest statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau for 2012.

Uttar Pradesh reported the second highest number of juvenile rapists with 123 arrests. There were 109 arrests in Rajasthan, 106 in Maharashtra, 89 in West Bengal, 87 in Odisha and 81 in Andhra Pradesh. New Delhi, which is gaining notoriety as the rape capital of India, reported 63 arrests of juveniles on rape charges. In Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 30 juveniles each were arrested on rape charges and 13 were apprehended in neighbouring Karnataka.

While a section of society advocates lowering the age of juvenile delinquents and meting out deterrent punishment to tackle such crimes, psychologists and child rights activists differ.

"Most perpetrators of crimes are themselves victims of crimes," says child psychologist Sangeetha Madhu. "It should be seen as a behavioural problem rather than treating them like criminals."

The factors behind juveniles committing heinous crimes such as rape are partly biological and partly psycho-social. Earlier, children used to attain puberty at the age of 14 or 16. Now, it has come down to 10 years, she says.

A lot of hormonal changes happen in a child's body at that age and if such children drop out of schools, they fall into the high-risk category, says Madhu. "They huddle together on the streets and fall into bad company," she says. "Such children would have faced abuse at home, might have a single parent or a broken family with a history of substance abuse. It is natural that they show more aggression."

Child-rights activist A Devaneyan says family has the biggest influence on any child. "Children pick up abusive language first from their parents," he says. "The films they see, the food they eat, everything has an impact on their character."

Vidya Reddy of Tulir, a centre that works for preventing child sexual abuse, says: "The way statistics on crime is collated, compiled and analysed in this country is a joke. If more cases of sexual violence are reported, it shows that awareness level is high and people have confidence in the police." But conviction rates are low in India because even consensual sex between juveniles who fall in love and elope are registered as rape cases. In such cases, victims turn hostile in court, she says.

Madhu says the media has a significant role to play in fighting this menace. "The media is a reflection of what is happening around, but it should be more responsible while reporting such instances," she says. "The objective should be to sensitise society against such crimes and not sensationalise." Targeting all school dropouts early in their lives is a must to prevent their becoming criminals, says Sangeetha. "Their early rehabilitation will make them responsible citizens."

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